The Safdie Brothers have officially split. Benny Safdie may have made his name alongside brother and collaborator Joshua Safdie in the filmmaking sphere, with hits like Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019) under the duo’s belt.
However, the former’s transition into his lucrative and much-lauded acting stint has also demonstrated that his capacity to navigate the creative space transcends beyond directing and screenwriting.
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Following the 37-year-old’s artistic foray into more acting and solo projects, reports surfaced last year indicating that he would not be co-directing an upcoming untitled sports memorabilia-themed Adam Sandler film, which was previously believed to be another Safdie brothers team-up. Amidst rumors of a falling out, Benny Safdie, confirming the amicable split, recently remarked that the two have geared up to embark on their separate journeys and explorations.
Benny Safdie Confirms The Safdie Brothers’ Split As Co-directors And Collaborators
Talking to Variety, Benny Safdie delved into the catalyst for going solo. While the siblings collaborated as executive producers on a few documentaries and docu-series last year, the younger Safdie’s recent career trajectory includes credits highlighting his individualistic, unaccompanied aspirations.
When news came in 2023 of the 37-year-old’s non-participation as a co-director in the untitled previously reported Safdies-Adam Sandler reunion, leaving Josh Safdie to helm the premise alone, many speculations suggested a bitter feud having taken place between the brothers.
Rumors also circulated about the nature of the split—whether it was a one-off instance or not. Confirming the director duo’s cooperative and amiable break-up, Benny Safdie remarked:
“It’s a natural progression of what we each want to explore. I will direct on my own, and I will explore things that I want to explore. I want that freedom right now in my life.”
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Of the yet-untitled Netflix film with Adam Sandler that Josh Safdie is slated to solo direct, the younger Safdie stated it is currently “on pause.” The Variety report also mentions that the Oppenheimer alum affirmed not being an active part of the creative process of the forthcoming sports memorabilia-themed project. He didn’t co-write it, either.
In addition to the confirmation, The Curse’s co-writer, co-creator, and actor made a statement that casts doubt on the filmmakers’ possible reunification. Benny Safdie responded, “I don’t know,” when asked if he would ever co-direct a film with his brother again.
Benny Safdie’s Uber-successful Acting Stint
Even though Benny Safdie has long dabbled in acting, 2023 proved particularly significant for the filmmaker. He first had a starring role in the 2017 drama Person to Person. In addition, he performed in Robert Pattinson’s Good Time, another co-directed effort from the Safdie brothers. In the following years, he eventually accumulated acting credits in various projects, such as Stars at Noon, Licorice Pizza, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and more.
In 2023, the world witnessed his performances in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, and Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer. His contributions to the latter endeavor as Edward Teller skyrocketed his reputation as an actor.
Of the epic biographical thriller project and Nolan’s expertise and directorial techniques, Benny Safdie stated the following in the same Variety interview:
“You’d come into the room, and Chris would say, ‘All right, let’s go.’ No camera. Everybody’s in makeup, and we’d … do the scene. And then it was like, let’s figure out where the cameras go. […] This is a huge movie, and he’s still operating with that level of freedom. As an actor, it made me feel awesome.”
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Beyond being a learning experience as a fellow filmmaker, the experience shaped his perspective of what it meant to be an actor in a Nolan-helmed film.
The Curse, an ongoing television series that debuted last year, also gave the younger Safdie greater visibility as an actor, co-creator, and co-writer alongside Nathan Fielder. Interestingly enough, his brother Josh Safdie serves as an executive producer on the show.
With the confirmation of the Safdie Brothers’ split and evolution into solo visionaries, it will soon be revealed what more the former filmmaking duo could bring to the creative space with their separate endeavors.
